August 2026 | Released September 18, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 28, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in August.
In August, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 16. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Maryland.
New Jersey
Employment snapshot
In August, New Jersey lost 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 21,900 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey lost 9,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 1.2 percentage points from 5.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, New Jersey’s private sector added 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 13,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 21,400 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in New Jersey rose by 11,056, and over the past 12 months it rose by 66,680.
New Jersey’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.6 percent in August from 63.5 percent and ranks 16th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
New Jersey
Payroll employment
New Jersey lost 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 21,900 jobs. New Jersey nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Jersey added 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 21,400 jobs. New Jersey private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 45th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From July 2026 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,400) and Construction (+1,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,500) and State and Local Government (-2,000).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+22,900) and State and Local Government (+4,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-7,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-7,200).
New Jersey
Labor force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in New Jersey rose to 63.6 percent in August from 63.5 percent in the prior month.
New Jersey ranks 16th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Jersey was 64.7 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 60.7 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.